Karl mariantes has hit the nail on the head about the feel and sense of any war. Karl malantes is an exemplary writer and, in my opinion, has written the best novel produced to date about the vietnam war. Karl marlantes in the tradition of norman mailers the naked and the dead and james joness the thin red line, marlantes tells the powerful and compelling story of a young marine lieutenant, waino mellas, and. Intense, powerful, and compelling, matterhorn is an epic war novel in the more.
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. A novel of the vietnam war isnt your ordinary war novel, it will give the reader an historically accurate and alarming vivid experience of the conflict that took place over 40 years ago in south east asia. Marlantes, who commanded a 3rd marine division rifle platoon in vietnam, spent three decades working on matterhorn, his first novel. He shows due respect to the nva that were often demeaned in other books. This is a thick book, and am now reading the final pages. As a marine officer in vietnam, in combat, i thought he captured the situation very, well. The code name for a hill in marlantes novel of the same name about the vietnam war. Matterhorn is a visceral and spellbinding novel about what it is like to be a young man at war.
Vince flynn, author of pursuit of honor matterhorn is one of the most powerful and moving novels about combat, the vietnam war, and war in general that i have ever read. Matterhorn should be a great book and is a great book. Matterhorn tells the story of the daytoday experience in a combat situation as well as any book i have read, and far better than most. In this post, you will find a list of the best vietnam books to read in 2020. Karl marlantes, a veteran of the vietnam war, took 30 years to write the book, originally producing more than 1,600 manuscript pages.
Download audiobooks matching keywords matterhorn a novel of the vietnam war to your device. It is the timeless story of a young marine lieutenant, waino mellas, and his comrades in bravo company, who are dropped into the mountain jungle of vietnam as boys and forced to fight their way into manhood. Philip caputo was a marine who later became a very wellknown journalist. Matterhorn quotes showing of 32 it was all absurd, without reason or meaning. Dan rather brings a long, torturous war back to life with realistic characters and authentic, thrilling combat sequences.
Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. After returning from vietnam, karl marlantes spent thirty years working on a novel based on his experience. This matterhorn, three kilometers from laos and two kilometers from the dmz in northwest south vietnam, rises over a mile high and is shrouded by cold monsoon rains and clouds. Karl marlantes doesnt introduce you to vietnam in his brilliant war epiche unceremoniously drops you into the jungle, disoriented and dripping with leeches, with only the newbie lieutenant as your guide. Showing results for matterhorn a novel of the vietnam war.
A novel of the vietnam war is a novel by karl marlantes, published in 2009. Marlantes drew upon his personal experiences fighting in vietnam to produce a work of stark realism conveying the true brutality and numbing routine experienced in combat. It is the timeless story of a young marine lieutenant, waino mellas, and his comrades in. Matterhorn is a marvela living, breathing book with lieutenant waino mellas and the men of bravo company at its raw and battered heart. People who didnt know each other were going to kill each other over a hill none of them cared about.
Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Matterhorn, by karl marlantes, is a book about a marine who is a part of bravo company and is in the jungles of vietnam. I have broken down the best books about vietnam into helpful sections. A novel of the vietnam war is a novel by american author and decorated marine karl marlantes. In his debut novel, matterhorn, vietnam combat veteran karl marlantes attempts to transport his readers to 1969, in a jungle near laos, just south of the vietnamese demilitarized zone dmz where. Intense, powerful, and compelling, matterhorn is an epic war novel in the tradition of norman mailers the naked and the dead and james joness the thin red line. In his debut novel, matterhorn, vietnam combat veteran karl marlantes attempts to transport his readers to 1969, in a jungle near laos, just south.
A novel of the vietnam war by karl marlantes although its true that matterhorn. Matterhorn is that rare modern novel destined to become a classic. While written as a novel, it is obvious this book is based on reallife experiences by the author. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Please read our short guide how to send a book to kindle. In this semiautobiographical book, a young ivy leagueeducated. Standing in their way are not merely the north vietnamese but also monsoon rain and mud, leeches and tigers, disease and malnutrition. It is an unforgettable novel that transforms the tragedy of vietnam into a powerful and universal story of courage, camaraderie. A beautiful, brutal vietnam war epic april 22, 2010 karl marlantes debut novel, 30 years in the making, follows waino mellas, a young ivy league student sent to vietnam.
The best vietnam war books five books expert recommendations. Karl marlantess 35year struggle to write a true novel of the vietnam war has finally paid off, says robert mccrum matterhorn is a bestseller. Which platoon is lieutenant mellas in charge of in matterhorn. Best war movies of all times vietnam war movies best full movie duration. Karl marlantess first novel, matterhorn, is about a company of marines who build, abandon and retake an outpost on a remote hilltop in vietnam. A novel of the vietnam war by karl marlantes paperback january 1, 2011 by authorauthor 4. Clearly, this was an ongoing getitoffmychest project. Intense, powerful, and compelling, matterhorn is an epic war novel in the tradition of norman mailer s the naked and the dead and james joness the thin red line. In the fiction section, you will find the best books on vietnam war, other vietnam bestseller novels as well as novels set in vietnam. It is an unforgettable novel that transforms the tragedy of vietnam into a powerful and universal story of courage, camaraderie, and sacrifice. According to the publisher, marlantes a highly decorated vietnam vet spent 30 years writing this book. Karl marlantess 35year struggle to write a true novel of the vietnam war has finally paid off matterhorn is a bestseller by robert mccrum sat 10 jul 2010 19. Matterhorn, published in 2010 and released in paperback this spring, takes on this big theme of futility beautifully as it applies to the vietnam war.
A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. Matterhorn is a perfect complement to the vietnam documentary. Matterhorn a novel of the vietnam war i feel legitimate turmoil and loss, ive never been so close to just reopening a book from the start the second i ended it. A big, powerful saga of men in combat, written over the course of thirtyfive years by a highly decorated vietnam veteran. A novel of the vietnam war audible audiobook unabridged karl marlantes author, bronson pinchot narrator, blackstone audio, inc. The form of matterhorn, karl marlantess first novel, is purposely structured on the typical soldiers divided experience. The ultimate 2020 list of best vietnam books to read. Masons choice of the war as her novel s centerpiece is a crucial element in the book s success. A novel of the vietnam war karl marlantes, 2010 groveatlantic press 600 pp. Whats the story set in 1969, a young marine lieutenant and his comrades in bravo company are dropped into the mountain jungle of vietnam. A novel of the vietnam war and millions of other books are available for instant access. Tell me about the first book on your list, a rumor of war 1977. Audible provides the highest quality audio and narration.
Matterhorn by karl marlantes a stark, brutal vietnam war epic karl marlantes debut novel, 30 years in the making, follows waino mellas, a. Matterhorn is one of the most powerful and moving novels about combat, the vietnam war, and war in general that i have ever read. In the first of two equal parts, the reader slogs along with the men. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. A novel of the vietnam war1 sarah boyce2 in matterhorn, karl marlantes, a vietnam combat veteran and rhodes scholar,3 has created what may be the finest novel yet written on the vietnam war. In my mind its one of the first really wellwritten books that describe the moral ambiguities and difficulties faced by a young marine officer in this particular war. The book is set in vietnam in 1969 and draws from the experiences of marlantes, who commanded a marine rifle platoon. Matterhorn a novel of the vietnam war by karl marlantes the.
As a war novel, the text contains numerous antagonists that the protagonist. Karl marlantes has written a riveting and harrowing portrait of young men at war. Written over the course of thirty years by a highly decorated vietnam veteran, matterhorn is a visceral and spellbinding novel about what it is like to be a young man at war. It is the timeless story of a young marine lieutenant, waino mellas, and his comrades in bravo company, who. The novel is set during the winter monsoon season of 196869 on and around a fire support base called matterhorn, located in the mountains of the remote northwestern corner of.